Kalea Mullett (left) with her travel companion Mark and family after finishing phase one of her cross-Canada trip raising awareness about cystic fibrosis. (Spencer Sterritt/NanaimoNewsNOW Staff)

By Spencer Sterritt

cystic fibrosis run

First part of cystic fibrosis awareness run finishes in Nanaimo

Jun 5, 2019 | 11:00 AM

NANAIMO — Phase one of an attempt to finish what Terry Fox started by running along the Trans Canada Trail came to a successful end in Nanaimo.

Kalea Mullett ran for eight days from Victoria to Nanaimo, landing in the Duke Point area on Wednesday, June 5. It was the first part of a cross-country journey to raise awareness about cystic fibrosis.

She told NanaimoNewsNOW she and her sister Lindsay, who passed away from the disease at the age of 16, idolized Terry Fox and what his run represented.

“When I learned he only made his way halfway across the country, I made a promise to my sister before she passed that I would finish Terry Fox’s run in her memory.”

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Mullett said her sister was her hero growing up.

“She couldn’t come and play and have the freedom I had, but she had such a positive outlook on life. I could see that her body was waging a war against all the micro-villains inside, while I had all this freedom and energy to go and experience life to bring back and share with her.”

Mullett said everything in her life, from her love of the outdoors, friends and family, has all built to this trek across Canada.

The run from Victoria to Nanaimo is only step one of a much-longer multi-year journey. She’ll return to Vancouver Island in late July to paddle to Squamish and continue the trip one journey at a time when vacation time from her work allows.

She estimated it will take up to seven years to cross the country and see the Atlantic Ocean.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit